Railroad signal-torpedo.



W. C. BBGKWITH.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPBDO.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE a, 1912.

1,061,666 Patented Jah. 28, 1913.

. pira WALTER (I1. BECKWITH, OF IEOSTORIA, OHIO.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TDRPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial No.` 702,592.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, 1WALTER C. BECK- WITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and pertains to that type in which the ends of the case are extended beyond the explosive compound sufficiently to constitute rail-engaging memberls for holding the torpedo to the railroad rai I am aware that it is not new to form a torpedo having a tubular tin-foil case, but, as heretofore constructed, they have been composed of a seamless tin-foil tube, which is expensive. So far as I am aware, a torpedo case has not been composed of combined sheets of tin-foil and paper, and the object of my invention is to make a tubular case of combined sheets of paper and tinfoil and to arrange the paper in respect t0 the tin-foil, so that the paper will provide means for making a Waterproof cementing of the ends of the sheets. since it is wellknown that it is difficult to cement metal to metal in any cheap and efficient manner.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved torpedo, showing it applied to the tread of a railroad rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken transverse the torpedo case on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the torpedo case and on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the manner of arranging the lead and paper sheets in the process of forming the tube for ythe case.

Referrin first to Fig. 4, the tubular case is compose of a lead sheet 1, which, after being partially wrapped, has inserted between its overlap ing end a paper sheet 2, which will extend therefrom sufliciently to more than wrap around the tube so that on the outside ofthe tube there will be overlapping paper portions which can be readily and efficiently cemented together by means of any well-known waterproof cement which will hold the cemented portions firmly and permit the tube to be afterward shaped up without loosening. After the tube has been rolled and completed, as described, and the overlapping portions of the paper cemented, the tube will be flattened to receive the explosive compound 3, constituting a central explosive containing portion 4, and the tube is of such a length that its ends 5 project 'sufficiently-beyond the explosive 3, to form rail-engaging members, as clearly shown. These extended ends 5 are firmly compressed together and preferably their edges lapped over, as shown at 6, Fig. l, t'o form tapered projecting ends. This construction will prevent the access of water to the explosive compound and will form an efficient and durable railway signal torpedo.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isv 1. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a case composed of combined sheets of paper and soft metal formed into a tube by rolling them together, an explosive compound within the tube, the tube projecting beyond the compound and closely compressed to form extending rail-engaging members.

2. A railway signal torpedo, comprisin a case composed of sheets of soft metal an paper roller together into a tube, the paper sheet extending beyond the metal sheet sufficiently to completely form the outer wall of the tube and bring paper to paper to be cemented, an explosive compound within the tube, the tube tightly flattened beyond the said compound to form rail-engaging members.

3. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a case formed of sheets of soft metal and. `paper wrapped together, the paper sheet projecting beyond the metal sheet sufiiciently to form an outside paper wrapper cemented paper to paper for the purpose described.

4. A railway signal torpedo, comprising a case composed-'of sheets of soft metal and paper formed into a receptacle by Wrapping In testimony whereof I hereunto ax my them together and having the paper sheet signature in the presence of two witnesses. 10

extend beyond the metallv sufficiently to form an outside paper Wrapper cemented paper WALTER C, BECKWITH. `to paper, an explosive compound Within the oase, the same projecting beyond the com- Witnesses:

pound and closelycompressed to form ex- C. B. BROWN,

tending rail engaglng members. E. C. PFEIL. 

